Tottenham 2-4 Chelsea

Juan Mata's superb second-half brace
helped Chelsea overcome the absence
of suspended captain John Terry and
strengthen their grip at the top of the
Premier League in a six-goal thriller
against Tottenham.
It turned into an unhappy reunion with
his former club for Spurs boss Andre
Villas-Boas, who was unceremoniously
axed by the Blues back in March, as
the hosts hit back from going a goal
down to lead early in the second
period, only to eventually succumb 4-2.
Gary Cahill, called into the side as Terry
served the first game of his four-match
ban for racially abusing Anton
Ferdinand, produced a sweet volley to
give his side the lead in the 17th
minute.
William Gallas could only head a
Chelsea corner out to the edge of his
own box which Cahill lashed home first
time beyond Brad Friedel, with the ball
taking a slight deflection off Steven
Caulker before finding the back of the
net.
But Gallas made amends immediately
at the start of the second half as he
turned the ball home from virtually on
the goalline after Jan Vertonghen did
superbly to put Tom Huddlestone's
free-kick to the far post back across the
face of goal.
It was the first time Chelsea had
conceded a second half goal in a
Premier League game this season, and
they were soon breached again as
Jermain Defoe reacted superbly to drill
a first-time effort beyond Petr Cech
after Aaron Lennon's scuffed cross-
shot.
The enthralling contest continued to
ebb and flow, with Mata finding the
bottom corner of Friedel's net with
unerring accuracy from the edge of the
box after another poor clearance from
Gallas following Oscar's low cross.
And Chelsea were back in front in the
66th minute as a flowing passing move
started by Mata and involving John Obi
Mikel and Eden Hazard ended with the
Spain international grabbing his
second of the game with Friedel again
helpless.
Kyle Walker forced Cech into a superb
save as time ran down, before lapsing
in defence and allowing Mata a free
run into the box where he squared for
substitute Daniel Sturridge to slot
home.